Effect of Pleurotus ostreatus Water Extract Consumption on Blood Parameters and Cytokine Values in Healthy Volunteers

Authors:
Abdurrahman Dündar, Pınar Yalçın, Nurgül Arslan, Hilal Acay, Abdulkerim Hatipoğlu, Mehmet Boğa, Selim Karahan, Bülent Yaprak

Journal:
Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 2024
DOI: 10.1080/27697061.2024.2369781

Study Design

29-day interventional trial in healthy adult volunteers

Participants

15 healthy adults (6 women, 9 men; ages 25–55) with normal BMI and no history of chronic disease. Participants were asked to maintain their normal routines during the study period.

Intervention

Daily intake of 100 mL of water extract from Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms for 29 consecutive days. The extract contained 38.12 mg of β-glucan per 100 mL and was prepared from sun-dried and powdered mushrooms.

Outcome Measures

• Hematological markers (CBC, WBC, RBC, Hb, platelets, etc.)
• Biochemical liver and kidney function tests
• Lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides)
• HbA1c (glucose metabolism)
• Serum cytokines: TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13

Summary

This pilot study assessed the safety and immunomodulatory effects of Pleurotus ostreatus water extract in healthy adults. After 15 days of daily consumption, significant reductions were observed in pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β. No further improvement was seen with continued intake through day 29. Lipid markers (TC, TG) and glucose metabolism (HbA1c) showed non-significant trends toward improvement. No negative changes were observed in liver, kidney, or hematological markers, confirming the extract’s safety. The findings suggest that Pleurotus ostreatus water extract may have a mild anti-inflammatory effect, potentially attributable to its β-glucan content, and that a 15-day regimen may be sufficient to induce this response.